I first met Ondrej in May, 2015 while training with Aaron Durogati on course line between the Brenta and Piz Corvatch turnpoints for the 2015 Red Bull X-Alps. We spent a few days in pretty horrendous weather figuring out a pretty tough part of the course and I grew to love the energy between these two remarkable athletes. Ondrej only began flying in 2010 but last month he broke the Esfera world record (off-axis Infinity) in Mexico and sends it hard in cross country as well. Not many athletes hit switch so well when it comes to paragliding and in this episode we find out what drew Ondrej to acro initially; how important it is to go well beyond simple SIV courses; why acro is safer than XC; what it’s like to be a supporter in the X-Alps- what they have done right as a team and how they plan to improve; how he’s made paragliding his life on a $6,000 annual budget (yes, you read that right); the danger of being in a comfort zone; life lessons he’s learned from flying; how to avoid the office; how simple it is to get what you want and a lot more. Enjoy!
Watch a ton of awesome videos of Ondrej on his website: http://www.ondrej-prochazka.com/
A buck an episode, that’s all we ask.
Subscribe to the Cloudbase Mayhem Podcast on Stitcher Radio, Google Play, Tune In, or ITunes!
Show Notes:
- Why Ondrej got into Acro
- Setting the Esfera world record
- The importance of stalls
- How to fly 300+ hours a year on a $6,000 USD annual budget
- Why acro is safer than XC
- Why SIV training isn’t NEARLY enough
- X-Pyr and X-Alps supporter- what they’ve done right, where they need to improve
- Maintaining passion when you fly year round
- How simple it is to get what you want
- Life lessons from paragliding
- How to get out of the office
- How to maintain balance
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:31 — 69.3MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | RSS | More
When I discovered flying (only 1,5 year ago), I left everything to do it, and during my first year I also flew 300+h, did some 100, 140km flights in the mountains and put myself in a few situations I should have never been. And of course I also had no money, or even a car, just my backpack and a huge hunger for flying… And since I went for it, all the most beautiful, incredible, amazing things happened!
It’s so cool to hear a similar Ondrej’s story of following his instinct.
I love your podcasts Gavin, I listen to every episode at least twice. Keep going!
Thanks so much Kinga! Keep sending!